Show ContentsRider History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rider family

The surname Rider was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Ryther, a parish, partly in the Upper, but chiefly in the Lower, division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash. 1

The surname was also an occupational name for "a rider, trooper." 2 Another source explores the occupation more: "a forest officer, being mounted, and having the supervision of a large district." 3

As far as early entries of the family, here are a few of them with various early spellings as listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Roger le Ridere in Cambridgeshire; Stephen le Ridere and Adam le Rydere in Huntingdonshire. 2

Kirby's Quest listed Nicholas le Ridere in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 4 John le Rider was listed a Freeman or York, 2 Edward III.

Early History of the Rider family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rider research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1544, 1562, 1576, 1581, 1583, 1590, 1597, 1600, 1611, 1615, 1632, 1634, 1673, 1681, 1683, 1691, 1697, 1723, 1752, 1754, 1756, 1762 and 1775 are included under the topic Early Rider History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rider Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ryder, Rider, Ryther and others.

Early Notables of the Rider family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • John Rider or Ryder (1562-1632), was an English lexicographer and Bishop of Killaloe, born at Carrington, Cheshire. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1581 and M.A. i...

Rider Ranking

In the United States, the name Rider is the 2,410th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 5

Ireland Migration of the Rider family to Ireland

Some of the Rider family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Rider migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rider Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Rider, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Hercules", bound for Weymouth 6
  • William Rider, who settled in Virginia in 1639
  • Sarah Rider, who landed in Virginia in 1660 6
  • Eleanor Rider, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 6
  • Andrew Rider, who landed in Virginia in 1666 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rider Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Rider, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 6
  • Hans M. Rider, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1728
  • Richard Rider, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 6
  • William Rider, who landed in America in 1764 6
  • George Rider, who arrived in Frederick County, Maryland in 1798 6
Rider Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Rider, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1862 6

Canada Rider migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rider Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Christopher Rider, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John Rider, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Mr. Stephen Rider U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 37 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 7
  • Mrs. Margaret Rider U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 86 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 7
  • Miss. Elizabeth Rider D.U.E. (b. 1772), aged 11 who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 143 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Rider migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rider Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Rider, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • James Rider, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Joseph Rider, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 10
  • Mr. John Rider, British Convict who was convicted in Chester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. Robert Rider, British Convict who was convicted in Leicester, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Rider migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rider Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Jonas Brown Rider, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 12
  • Mary Lucy Rider, aged 19, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 12
  • Mary Ellen Rider, aged 6, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 12
  • Jonas B. Rider, aged 4, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 12
  • Thomas Rider, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Rider migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13
Rider Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • John Rider, who settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Rider (post 1700) +

  • Michael Rider (b. 1952), American actor, known for his roles in Road House (1989), Pulse (1988) and Platoon Leader (1988)
  • Amy Rider, American actress, known for her roles in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008), Pluzman (2008) and Kill Speed (2010)
  • George Rider (1890-1979), American college sports coach and administrator
  • Arthur Fremont Rider (1885-1962), American writer, poet, editor, inventor, genealogist, and librarian
  • Isaiah "J.R." Rider (b. 1971), American former National Basketball Association player
  • Fremont Rider (1885-1962), American writer and librarian
  • William Rider (1723-1785), English miscellaneous writer, son of John Rider of London
  • Elizabeth Rider, English actress known for her roles in Doctors (2000), Brothers of the Head (2005) and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II-The Sith Lords (2004)
  • Steve Rider (b. 1950), English sports presenter and anchorman
  • Thomas Rider (1785-1847), British politician, Member of Parliament for Kent
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Maurice D. Rider, American Boatswain's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 14


Suggested Readings for the name Rider +

  • The Gorman Family History: Including the Genealogy of Their Rider and Armstrong Ancestors by Edith Lyn Mlaker.

  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  7. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  8. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
  9. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  14. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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